Regions
South Coast Inland.
Watch for wind slabs at upper elevations.
Confidence
Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries, light southwest wind, alpine temperatures drop to -8 C.SATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.SUNDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.MONDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods, moderate northwest wind, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity has been reported. On Wednesday, numerous size 2 loose dry and storm slab avalanches were reported on all aspects in the south of the region, particularly in the Cheam area where the storm slabs were thicker.
Snowpack Summary
5-15 cm of low density snow sits above a mix of hard wind affected snow and possibly crusts on south-facing features. Several crusts can be found 40-80 cm below the surface. At higher elevations cold temperatures have been working to facet and break down these crusts. In sheltered terrain at and below treeline, a layer of weak feathery surface hoar or sugary facets may be identified around these crusts, but this interface has produced little recent avalanche activity. The remainder of the snowpack is generally well-settled.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.